Behind the Pit Wall: Jamie Albon's Challenge // Lando Norris // F1

Chapter 2: Unexpected Party Plans

The air in Bahrain was warm and dry as Jamie, Alex, and Logan made their way toward the luggage carousel. The sounds of the airport—tired travelers dragging suitcases, the hum of announcements overhead—buzzed around them. Jamie pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail, grateful to finally be off the plane. She scanned the carousel and quickly spotted her luggage. As soon as it appeared, she grabbed it, noting how easily Alex and Logan found theirs too.

"Not bad," Logan remarked with a grin. "No delays, no lost luggage. I'll call that a win."

"Yeah, let's hope the rest of the week goes just as smoothly," Alex said, hoisting his bag over his shoulder.

Jamie chuckled, but her thoughts were already drifting to what the next few days would bring. Pre-season testing was always an intense time, with teams fine-tuning their cars and drivers mentally preparing for the long season ahead. She had been to Bahrain before, tagging along to support Alex, but this time it felt different. She wasn't just a fan or a sister—she was a part of the Williams team.

As they walked into the arrival hall, Jamie's eyes quickly landed on two Williams team members holding a sign with the familiar logo. The colleagues waved as soon as they saw the trio approaching.

"Welcome to Bahrain!" one of them, a tall guy named Pete, greeted them with a smile. "We'll get you to the hotel in no time."

"Great to see you, Pete," Alex said as they exchanged handshakes.

The colleagues helped them with their luggage and led them to the parked van outside. The heat hit Jamie the moment they stepped into the sun, but she didn't mind. It was a welcome change from the chilly weather they had left behind in London. They loaded their suitcases into the back of the van and climbed inside. Jamie, Alex, and Logan squeezed into the backseat, leaving Pete and another colleague, Kate, to take the front.

As they started driving, Pete glanced back and began rattling off updates. "Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren have already arrived. They're staying in a different hotel, but we'll see them at the track tomorrow. Testing starts bright and early."

Jamie sighed softly at the mention of McLaren. Of course, they were already here. She had hoped for at least a day or two without running into Lando, but she wasn't surprised. McLaren was always early.

Alex noticed her reaction and smirked. "Hoping to avoid Lando for a bit?"

Jamie shot him a look. "You know exactly why. The less I see of him, the better. That goes for George too."

Logan, sensing a bit of tension, laughed lightly. "You and Lando, huh? I've heard the stories."

Jamie shook her head. "It's not a rivalry or anything dramatic. He's just... irritating."

Alex chuckled softly. "You know, for people who can't stand each other, you sure do talk a lot."

"Only because he won't leave me alone," Jamie muttered, crossing her arms. "I'd love to avoid him completely."

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and Jamie relaxed as they drove toward their hotel. Bahrain was beautiful, as always, with the sun casting a golden glow over the desert landscape. The van pulled up to their hotel, a sleek, modern building situated just a short drive from the track. As they checked in, Pete informed them that they would be sharing the hotel with Alpine.

Jamie couldn't help but grin. "Well, at least I won't have to deal with Lando in the hotel."

Alex chuckled at her obvious relief. "You're lucky. But I know how things go—you'll run into him at some point."

"Not if I can help it," Jamie said, though she knew Alex was probably right.

They grabbed their room keys and headed to their respective rooms. As Jamie unpacked, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She already had a bad feeling about who it was, and sure enough, when she unlocked her phone, it was another message from Lando.

Stupid Norris: Can't wait to see you tomorrow, Jay.

Jamie rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. The nickname "Jay" grated on her nerves every time he used it. She hated it—not only because it felt impersonal, but because people often assumed she was a boy when they heard it. Lando, of course, knew exactly how much she despised it, which was why he used it every chance he got.

Without replying, Jamie swiped the message away and shoved her phone onto the desk. She knew Lando's game. He enjoyed annoying her, and for some reason, he took great pleasure in getting under her skin. But she wasn't in the mood to play along today. She ignored the phone as it buzzed a few more times with additional messages, knowing they were all from him.

After unpacking and settling in, Jamie received a notification in the Williams group chat. They were meeting in two hours for a briefing before the pre-season testing began. She sighed, deciding to take her time getting ready. She swapped her travel clothes for something more comfortable—choosing a blue crop top and a pair of black jeans with a subtle white pattern running down the sides. She glanced in the mirror and gave herself a small nod of approval before heading to Alex's room.

It took a minute, but when Alex finally opened the door, he grinned at her. He was dressed in a Williams team shirt and casual jeans.

"Looking sharp," Jamie said with a smirk.

"You too. Ready for the briefing?"

"Yeah. Let's get this over with."

As they walked down the hotel hallway toward the lobby, Alex casually mentioned, "Oh, by the way, Lando, George, Oscar, and Max are planning to go out tonight. They invited me to join them."

Jamie snorted. "Of course, they are. You gonna go?"

Alex shrugged. "I was thinking about it. You should come too."

Jamie stopped and looked at him incredulously. "You seriously want me to be in the same room as Lando and George? Are you trying to torture me?"

Alex laughed. "Come on, it won't be that bad. Besides, Logan could come too. You two get along, right?"

"I barely know Logan."

"Exactly! This could be a good chance to hang out more, and it's just a party. You can always leave if it gets too annoying."

Jamie sighed, knowing Alex was wearing her down. He always had a way of convincing her to do things she wasn't keen on. "Fine. But only if I drive, and I leave when I feel like it."

Alex smiled, knowing he'd won. "Deal. Just let me know when you want to leave, and I'll come with you."

By the time they reached the meeting room, Jamie was still mentally bracing herself for the night ahead. The Williams briefing went smoothly, with the team presenting their strategies and expectations for the upcoming tests. Jamie focused as much as she could, taking notes and paying attention to the key points. But even after two hours of sitting through presentations, the thought of that evening's party loomed large in her mind.

As the meeting wrapped up, Jamie stretched and gathered her things. She followed Alex out of the room, and they started walking back toward their hotel rooms.

"So," Alex said casually, "we're meeting in an hour to head to the party. You good with that?"

Jamie nodded, though she still felt a knot of tension forming in her chest. "Yeah, I'll be ready."

She spent the next hour getting herself mentally prepared. It wasn't the idea of going out that bothered her—it was the thought of dealing with Lando's relentless teasing and George's equally frustrating charm. They weren't bad people, but when the two of them got together, they could be infuriating.

Still, a part of her knew that she couldn't avoid them forever. This was Formula 1, and the paddock wasn't that big. Plus, if Alex wanted her there, she'd go. For him.

She sighed as she finished getting ready and headed for the lobby. This season was shaping up to be more challenging than she had anticipated, and it hadn't even officially started yet.